9 Must-Visit Filming Locations in Hawaii

Kualoa Ranch on Oahu is by far the most ubiquitous filming location in Hawaii and arguably one of the easiest to access. These oceanfront green mountains have appeared in movies such as Jurassic Park (1993), Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016), Kong: Skull Island (2017), and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)—and that’s on top of countless TV shows, commercials, and music videos filmed there.

Luckily, Kualoa Ranch offers tours designated to seeing the film locations—and the props left behind—from these movies, so film buffs can really revel in the details.

Related: Know Before You Go: Visiting Kualoa Ranch

If you’re into old-school movies, check out The Royal Hawaiian. This pretty-in-pink hotel was featured in films such as Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961), Big Jim McClain (1952), Punch-Drunk Love (2002), and The Black Camel (1932).

As a matter of fact, some of the casts of these movies—such as that of From Here to Eternity (1952)—actually stayed at this famed accommodation while filming. It’s easy enough to visit The Royal Hawaiian today by booking a room or dining at one of the on-site restaurants.

Insider tip: You can also quite easily spot the hotel on a stroll along Waikiki Beach or Kalakaua Avenue.

For a more newly minted Hawaii filming location, head to Maui, where you’ll find the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea—also known as the filming location for season 1 of The White Lotus.

The Four Seasons is already a ritzy resort, and the fictional White Lotus Hotel simply took that glitz and glam to the next level. Spot the property’s lobby, pools, spa, and restaurants, along with the nearby Wailea Beach, in the popular show.

Did you know?: Since the show was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire cast and crew of The White Lotus lived and worked entirely on the resort premises for the duration of filming.

Located on the North Shore, the Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay has been used as a filming location for just about every genre of movie under the sun. Nearly all of the romcom Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) was filmed right on the hotel grounds.

More of an action fan? The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) was shot at the resort’s lesser-known Kawela Bay. And the raunchy comedy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016) filmed many of its party scenes on the property as well.

As if that weren’t enough, the resort’s forested areas may also be one of the most famous Hawaii TV filming locations, thanks to the hit show LOST. The show’s iconic banyan tree even received its own film-focused commemorative plaque.

Want to bring your kids in on the movie fun? The Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina will do the trick, as that’s where Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022) were both filmed. You and your little ones can walk along the very same pathways and shorelines that Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails did.

While filming has obviously wrapped on these two movies, it’s not uncommon for Hollywood stars to stay at this fancy beachfront resort. Kate Hudson, Amy Schumer, and Jessica Alba have all stayed there in the past, so keep an eye out!

Most directors and producers select film locations in Hawaii for their tropical island setting—or perhaps to create a fictional world of modern-day dinosaurs. For the Byodo-In Temple on Oahu, however, that isn’t the case.

Modeled after a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan, the Byodo-In Temple is typically used to make a film set look like it’s in Japan (or greater East Asia) instead, such as in Pearl Harbor (2001) or LOST (2004–2010). The temple is regularly open to visitors, so it’s a particularly popular spot on Hawaii film tours. Take time to stroll the peaceful grounds, watch the koi fish, and spot the golden Buddha statue inside.

If you’re searching for a Hawaii filming destination on the lush island of Kauai, look no further than Kipu Ranch. Located just outside of Lihue, Kipu Ranch serves a similar purpose as Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, with its green mountains and oceanfront location.

Step into the real-life sets of movies such as Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011), and The Descendants (2011). Even better, Kipu Ranch offers a few different ATV tours of its property, so you can feel like the adventurers in these films too.

There are countless waterfalls on the island of Kauai, but Opaekaa Falls seems to have caught the eyes of Hollywood directors the most of any Kauai cascades. Through the years, this particular Kauai waterfall has been featured in countless movies, including Blue Hawaii (1961), The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960), Seven Women From Hell (1961), and Jungle Cruise (2021).

It’s easy enough to get a glimpse of this 151-foot (46-meter) waterfall at its designated lookout point just off Kuamoo Road in Wailua. Drive a three-wheeled, open-air Fun Utility Vehicle (FUV) on a self-guided island tour to get there.

Ke'e Beach and the Na Pali Coast are like two peas in a pod. The former’s golden sands serve as a sort of entry point to the latter—whether on foot or by boat. And between the beach scape and the greenery-laden cliffs, the two are perfect for filming all sorts of adventure movies.

Lord of the Flies (1990), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Six Days, Seven Nights (1998), and Throw Mama from the Train (1987) are just a few of the hits filmed at these stunning Kauai landmarks.

Related: Know Before You Go: Visiting the Na Pali Coast